As readers of this blog know, we’ve featured shoes that boasted “girth” before. Well, that’s not the case with the PureCadence. Brooks says the shoe has “lean construction,” which “fuses with a responsive fit in the PureCadence.”

The shoe is designed to support runners through a wider “Nav Band that’s locked in to the medial strike pod.”

In other words, Brooks has designed a minimal stability shoe that’s meant to help guide runners’ feet toward a natural foot strike while offering what they say is a lightweight, breathable shoe. At 8.3 ounces, the shoe is supposed to last 250 to 300 miles, suggests Brooks.

We say

Lean is good. A lean shoe sounds like something that might lower cholesterol – especially if you’re running in it.

Who wears it

Jenny Norris, 29, is an outside sales representative for New Orlean’s daily newspaper, The Times-Picayune and its website, nola.com. She blogs for nola.com’s running page. http://www.nola.com/running/, is a contributor to www.claimyourjourney.com, which is the leading website for running Louisana, and on Twitter moderates #RunLaChat, also hosted by Claim Your Journey.

Exhausted yet? Not Norris. She also coaches a summer league swim team (which she swam in as a child) and whom her eight-year-old swims in.

That would pretty much tucker out most folks, but Norris is not just a runner, but a triathlete. She started running about 10 years ago, one to two-mile runs as warm ups before gym workouts. Then four years into that five and 10 kilometre races enticed her to get a bit more serious.

Norris says she’s a natural swimmer and “pretty decent” on the bike, but she chooses to focus on her runs because they’re what challenges her.

” I love running, not only because of the way it makes me feel but because of the challenge it presents to me. I am not that fast and it has taken a lot for me to get to a steady 9:30-10 minute mile and keep hold of it,” Norris says.

PRs? Norris laughs. “I don’t really have any PR’s to brag about since I’m not fast, the highest I’ve ever placed in a race is 4th in my age group at the Sandestin Triathlon in 2009.”

Norris, however, achieved infamy during one tri, earning her the nickname, “Bubbles.” Her well-meaning husband washed her tri shorts with soap – they were supposed to be cleaned in mild soap only – the night before the race, and while swimming in the lake activated a few of the suds and the bike brought out some more, by the time Norris was into the run, her legs were foaming like a rabid dog. Apparently, the shorts company heard about the episode and liked it so much that they sent her a new pair.

Why she likes them

Norris says she’s on her second pair of PureCadences.

A neutral left foot and a pronating right foot makes Norris “an awkward person for shoes,” she says. She ran through five different brands of shoes, favoring Asics until Brooks began promoting its PureProject line. “I knew I wanted to try them.”

Previously, Norris had run in Zoots for shorter runs and sprint triathlons and while she favored their light weight, she also realized they wouldn’t suit her for longer distances or on regular, daily runs. “I know I needed more support.”

These days, though, Norris reserves all her love for her PureCadences. They provide the support she needs for her pronation, but are still light enough that – unlike other stability shoes she’s tried – they don’t weigh her feet and legs down.

Norris also appreciates the padding inside the shoe, which she says keeps her feet stable and gives her the feeling she’s running on air. Her only complaint is the tongue moves a bit when she runs, but adds that’s never caused any discomfort.

“I’ve never enjoyed running as much as I have before finding these shoes! ”

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About subthree

A multiple award-winning journalist, I'm currently a contributing editor with both Canadian Running and Canadian Cycling magazines. My articles have appeared in Explore, Canadian Geographic, enRoute, The National Post, The Globe and Mail, and many other magazines and newspapers.
Formerly a competitive cross-country mountain biker, I switched to running in 2006. I've run seven marathons, qualifying for Boston five times (and which I've run once). Generally, I've placed or won in my age group in races, in distances ranging from five and 10 kms to half and full marathons. I've also taught spin classes at a number of leading Eastern Canadian gyms.
Sub-three was a 2012 #Runchat finalist for Best Overall Blog.